Peters



5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

W. D. GRAY.

FLOUR DRESSING MACHINE.

Patented June 5, 1883.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet; 2. W. D. GRAY.

FLOUR DRESSING MACHINE.

No. 278,702. Patented June 5,1883.

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5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

Patented June 5, 1883.

W. D. GRAY.

FLOUR DRESSING MACHINE.

1 1 m fl WP. 1 1w, W I! llht l. I is W W 1 I, Mw I I M (No Model?) 0 G R m V v. i V

(Tins Photo-Lithograph". wuhin ton. n C

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

W. D. GRAY.

FLOUR DRESSING MACHINE.

Patented June 5, 1883.

m. w I m A i an (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

W. D. GRAY.

FLOUR DRESSING MACHINE.

Patented June 5, 1883.

- UNITED STATES. ATENT FLQUR-DRESSDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 278,702, dated June 5, 1883. Application filed Septeniberitf), H82. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, XVILLIAM D. Gnu, of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of W'isconsin, have invented certain Improvements in Flour- Dressing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of machines which consist, essentially, of an inclosing case or body, a cylindrical reel revolving therein, and a series of blades or beaters re- "olving within the reel to drive the material under treatment against its interior surface, these machines being variously denominated in the art as brandusters, flourdressers, and centrifugal reels.

My invention relates to improved means for supporting and imparting a positive rotation to the horizontal revolving cylinder; to an improved manner of constructing said cylinder of segmental sections and intermediate connecting-bars; to a double-reel consisting of two secti ons constructed and mounted up on a common axis, as hereinafter explained, and to various minor features of construction, which will be hereinafter enumerated in detail. The accompanying drawings represent my improvements applied to both single and donble machines.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents alongitudinal vertical section through the center of a single cylinder constructed 011 my plan, the upper half of the cylinder being shown in elevation and the lower half in section. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the same, the left of said figure being on the plane m, Fig. 1, while the right-hand portion of the view is on the line y 1], Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of a double cylinder machine constructed on my plan, the upper half of the bolting cylinder or reel being shown in elevation, while the lower half is in section. Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the same on the line .2 z. V Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line 2 z, Fig. '3, through the lower side of the tail of the reel and one of its supporting and driving wheels. Fig. 7 is a face view of the parts illustrated in Fig. 5, separated from each other the better to show their form. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal vertical section through a portion of the head of the reel and one of its sustaining-pulleys. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the parts represented in Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is aplan view, illustrating the construction of the segments or sections of the bolting-reel and the casing in which they are connected one with another. Fig. 11 is a transverse section on the line 1 y of Fig. 1, through one side ofthe bolting-reel, illustrating the 0011- struction and connection of its segmental sections; Figs. 12, 13, and 14C, sectional views, illustrating the details of the reel.

Referring first to the single cylinder ma chine represented in Fig. 1, A represents an external case or body sustained by a. suitable frame-work, which may be of any form or construction adapted to inclose and sustain the working parts.

B represents the bolting cylinder or reel, extending lengthwise within the body and constructed and rotated in the peculiar manner hereinafter described.

G represents the main shaft, extending longitudinally through the center of the cylinder, sustained in bearings at the ends of the main frame, and provided within the reel with a series of arms or skeleton wheels "carrying spiral blades or boaters D. By means of suitable driving devices, hereinafter detailed, the cylinder is gradually revolved, while at the same time the heaters are caused to revolve rapidly therein, in substantially the same manin the art. has been sustained in some instances by journals at its ends, and in others by friction pulleys or wheels, upon which the circular ends of the cylinder rested, and from which motion was communicated by frictional contact to the cylinder. In practice much difficulty has been ner as in other machines of this class common Heretofore the bolting-cyl1nder v encountered in the use of this frictional driving-gear because of the irregular motion imparted to the cylinder, and because of the 1mcertainty of its action in the presence of the dust which finds its way between the surfaces. The object of the first part of my invention is to avoid this difficulty and cause the cylinder to be revolved positively and steadily I without the objectionable treinulous motion commonly encountered and to this end it consists in the combination of a cylinder, smoothsurfaced driving-pulleys, and toothed gear on gaging with corresponding surfaces and gear upon the reel, in the manner hereinafter explained in detail.

The cylinder may be driven by gear at one end only, sustained by the smooth-sin'faced pulleys at the opposite end; or the drivinggear may be applied in the case of long cylinders to both ends, if desired, both constructions being represented in the accompanying drawings.

The manner of constructing and driving the cylinder when driven from one end only will be clearly understood on reference to Figs. 1, 3, 5, and 6. At each end the cylinder has a smooth cylindrical surface or flange, a. At the tail of the cylinder a circular gear-ed ring, I), encircles the cylinder at the side of the smooth track or flange (1.

The flange and teeth may be constructed separately and secured in position; but for the purpose of eheapness it is preferred to cast them both in one piece with the flange or hoop C, which constitutes the end of the cylinder-body. The smooth track or flange a is arranged to travel upon the corresponding smooth periphcral surfaces, (2, of two pulleys or wheels, E, located on opposite sides ofthe machine, as shown in Fig. 3, at such distance apart as to admit of the cylinder resting between them. Each of the pulleys E has, in addition to the smooth surface (I, a series of peripheral cog-teeth, e, which engage with the teeth (Z upon the cylin der. i The surface a of the cylinder and the corresponding surfaces, (1, ofthc pulleys are arranged to coincide with the pitchline of the adjacent teeth, so that when the smooth surfaces of the cylinder and the smooth surfaces of the pulleys are brought together the teeth of the cylinder and pulleys will engage with each other and operate smoothlyin other words, the interlocking teeth will cause the smooth surfaces upon the cylinder and upon the pulleys totravel at equal speeds, so that the cylinder will roll upon the pulleys without slip and without sliding friction. In this manner the end of the cylinder is sustained firmly, carried smoothly, and caused to rotate with a positive action.

For the purpose of preventing the cylinder from moving endwise and causing the disengagement ofthe driving-teeth, the pulleys e are provided at the outer side with peripheral flanges g, which engage over the outside of the track a, as shown.

As regards the above arrangement for sustaining and driving the end of the cylinder,

the essential feature of the invention consists in combining smooth sustaining-surfaces with driving-teeth, and it is manifest that the form and details of these parts may be modified in many respects, whichwill suggest themselves to the skilled mechanic, without essentially changing their-mode of action or departing from the limits of my invention, and for this reason I do not restrict myself to the unessential details of form.

The head of the cylinder may be constructed and driven by appliances identical with those at the tail, as above described; but as I prefer in most cases to make use of a cylinder having its head or a supplemental ring there on adjustable longitudinally-as, for example, in Patent No. 260, 47 7 July at, 1882-for the purpose of stretching the bolting-cloth, I prefer to sustain the head of the reel, as shown in Figs. 1, 7, and 8, by means of pulleys, which admit of the cylinder being adjusted laterally thereon. Referring to this construction, it will be seen in Fig. 1 that the head of the cylinder, or a hoop forming its end, is provided with a smooth peripheral flange, a, before mentioned, and that this flange rests upon and is sustained by two smooth-surfaced pulleys, F. These pulleys are made of a surface length or width sufficiently great to admit of the flange a being shifted thereon a distance equal to that which the cylinder is moved in stretching the cloth.

In order to insure a steady motion of the cylinder, it is considered preferable to impart a positive rotation to the pulleys F as well as to the driving-pulleys at the tail of the cylinder, and the means for so doing Iwill now describe. The corresponding pulleys, E and F, at opposite ends of the machine, are mounted upon horizontal shafts G and G, which are extended through the machine from end to end, and provided at one end with spur-wheels H H, located outside of the body, as plainly represented in Figs. 1 and 2.

011 the main or beater shaft C, which is the main driving-shaft of the machine, a sprocketwheel, I, is applied. Near the bottom of the machine a fourth sprocket-wheel, J, is mounted on a horizontal shaft, which also drives a conveyer, as hereinafter described. Around the four wheels H and H, I and.J, a driving-chain, K, is passed, the single chain thus applied serving to transmit motion from the Wheel I, through the wheels H and H and their shafts, to the carrying-pulleys at both ends ofthe cylinder, and also to the wheel J, by which the upper conveyer is driven. per conveyer, L, is mounted upon or attached to the shaft of the wheel J, and is extended horizontally through the base of the machine. Below the conveyer L, in the base of the machine, there is a second conveyer, M, separated from the one first named by an intermediate partition provided throughout its length with slides, by which the material may be dropped through at any desired point from the upper to the lower conveyer, to be returned thereby. This arrangement of conveyer-s I do not claim.

The shaft of the upper' conveyer is provided with a gear-wheel, N, which engages with a corresponding wheel, 0, applied to the journal of the lower conveyer.

The up- It will be observed that under the above arrangement of parts positive 'motion is communicated to each and every moving part of the machine, and that the driving-gear is all 10- cated at one end of the maehinej The cylinder or reel represented in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 is of the cloth as'tailings, are delivered through the open tail of the cylinder and descend through the passage Q to the lower conductor;

A slide, B, may be located at the base of this opening to permit the direct delivery of the material when desired.

For the purpose of permitting the proper passage of air-currents through the machine, openings b may be made inthe top casing and a large opening, I. provided in its end opposite the head of the cylinder. The inclined blades or beaters operate in connection with these openings to produce a draft or blast of air into the cylinder outwardthrough its pervious material. I prefer, however, in most cases to construct the cylinder in the peculiar manner hereinafter described, constituting an important feature of my invention: This im proved form of cylinder may be employed in place of that represented in Figs. 1, 2, and

Referring next to the machine constructed with a double bolting-cylinder, reference is made to Fig. 4. It will be seen to consist, essentially, of an outside casing, A, a horizontal revolving slide, B, and a central main shaft, 0, provided with a series of spiral beaters, D, as in the preceding apparatus. This second machine, however, is made of much greater length than the one first described, and instead of having the cylindrical reel made in one c011- tinuous length to receive material at one end of the machine and discharge it at the other, it has acylinder composed of two lengths or sections, arranged end to end, with a space between them for the delivery of the tailings. The manner of building up the cylinder, forming the essential part of the invention, will be readily understood on reference to Figs. 4., 5, 10, 11, 12, and 13. Two annular hoops or rings, c, are first provided to form the two ends. These rings are connected by a series of longitudinal metal bars, 1', of T form in cross-section. These bars, of which there are usually four, have the rib or flange cut away at each end for a short distance, as shown in Fig. 12, thus giving the bar two flat ends, which are secured rigidly to the inside of the respective hoops or rings by means of bolts j, as clearly represented in the various figures. The longitudinal anglebars and the end hoops secured together, as described, constitute a strong skeleton frame, to which the body portion of the cylinder is secured. This body portion consists of a suitable number of segmental frames or sections, (represented'in Fig.

attached at their ends to transverse connect ing-bars, the whole constituting a segmental frame adapted to fit closely between two of the longitudinal angle-bars z. These segmental sections are each made of a length slightly less than half the length of the cylinder. Each end of the cylinder-frame is completed by applying to the skeleton four of the segmental sections, which are fitted between and against I, inserted through the angle-bars and these sections in the manner most clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 11.

In applying the segmental sections to the frame, care is taken to leave a space between the inner ends of the sections at one end of the cylinder and the inner ends of .the sections at the opposite end of the cylinder, the space thus left affording outlets through which the the cylinder is permitted to escape. After bolting. the segmental sections firmly in place, I apply the bolting-cloth to the inner surface of the cylinder by nailing it fast to the interior of the wooden sections or in any other suitable manner, the central spaces, It, between the segments being left uncovered.

It will be seen that the cylinderconstructed as above described, although built with a singleframe from end to end, constitutes in effect two independent cylinders adapted to receive material at their ends and to discharge the same at the center, or vice versa. The present machine is arranged to receive the material at the outer ends of the cylinders through .feed-spouts S, provided for the purpose. The central space between the two ends or divisions of "the cylinder is divided by a vertical partition, thus producing two vertical passages, m, through which the tailings pass from the opposite ends of the cylinder to the re spective conveyers located thereimder, there being a separate pair of conveyers under each half of the cylinder. The conveyers for the two ends of the machine are mounted in line with each other upon common shafts, both of which shafts are operated from one end of the machine through a drivinggear operated from mechanism being identical with that reprethe inner ends of the segmental sections may be left vacant, or segments may be introduced between them for the purpose of giving additional rigidity and stiffness to the cylinder.

used in this double machine, it is found advisable in most cases to drive the same from both ends. This driving is effected by means of the combination and toothed rings with supporting and driving pulleys having the combina tion of smooth and toothed surfaces, as de scribed in connection with the first machine, and as represented in Figs. 6- and 7. The corresponding pulleys at the two ends of the macoarse material delivered in the two ends of the main shaft, the arrangement of the driving sented in Fig. 2. The central space between 10,) each consisting of a series of curved ribs the angle-bars, and secured in place by bolts v Owing to the great length of the cylinder chine are mounted upon one and the same shaft, the shafts being extended through the machine from end to end, as in the machine first described.

\Vhile I have described my method of building the frame of the cylinder as applied to a double reel, or reel having two independent end sections, it is to be distinctly understood that it is equally applicable to short cylinders, such as shown in Fig. 1, inwhich case the seg mental sections will extend continuously from one end of the cylinder to the other.

Owing to the great length of the beater-shaft (I, there is a danger of its sagging slightly at the center, and consequently binding in the bearings at its ends. In order to avoid difficulty from this source, I sustain the shaft in boxes 0, which have spherical outer ends seated in corresponding recessed supports or bearings, p. This construction permits the boxes to rock or tip in their bearings to accommodate themselves to the varying position or inclination of the shaft, thus permitting the shaft to run freely at all times. The boxes 0 are usually divided lengthwise into equal parts, and the bearing 1) constructed with a movable cap or top piece secured in place by bolts to permit the introduction and removal of the box. It

is also preferred to provide the parts of the box with longitudinal ribs or lugs engaging in corresponding grooves in the bearing (Z, to prevent the box from rotating therein.

As regards the construction of the cylinderframe, the improvement consists, essentially, in

combining with the hoops or end rings the longitudinal bars connecting them and the segmental frame-sections bolted to and sustained by the bars. So long as this construction is substantially adhered to, the details may be modified as desired.

It will of course be understood that when the cylinder is constructed with the longitudinal bars bolted to the end rings or hoops the head of the cylinder cannot be adjusted to effeet the stretching of the bolting-cloth. If it be desired to secure this adjustment, a separate movable ring or hoop must be applied to the end of the frame, or the connection of the hoop at one end of the longitudinal bars must be a sliding one to admit of the hoop being moved. The last-named construction, although not de sirable in ordinary cases, is indicated on the right-hand side in Fig. 12, in which it will be seen that the longitudinal bar is slotted to allow a limited play of the bolts by which it is connected to the hoop forming the head of the cylinder.

It will be perceived that the machine constructed as shown in Fig. 4 constitutes in effect a duplex machine, or machine containing two combinations of mechanism, which effect the bolting operation independently of each other. The machine constructed in this manner possesses many advantages where a large'amount of work is to be performed, the principal advantages being the economy of space, the re duetion in the cost of construction as compared with separate machines of equal capacities, and the reduction of the working parts to the smallest number possible.

Vhile I have in the drawings represented the double machine arranged to receive the material at the heads of the cylinder and dis charge the same at the center, the feeding spouts may, if preferred, be located at the center and the tailings deliveredat the ends, in which case it will only be necessary'to reverse the motion of the conveyors, and to give the heaters and blades an obliquity in the opposite direction from' that shown in the drawings, to effect the feeding of the material to ward the ends, instead of toward the center.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The revolving reel or cylinder provided with the smooth cylindrical' and the toothed surfaces encircling the same, in combination with supporting-pulleys provided with corresponding smooth and toothed surfaces.

2. A horizontal bolting-reel encircled by a smooth track or flange, and also by a line of gear-teeth, in combination with a wheel provided with teeth engaging with teeth of the reel, and also with a smooth supporting-sun face bearing beneath the track or flange of the reel, substantially as described and shown, whereby said pulley is adapted to serve the twofold purpose of supporting and driving thereel.

3. In combination with the bolting reel or cylinder having the flange (t and teeth I), the supporting drivingpulleys provided with the teeth 0, surfaces (Z, and flange as and forthe purpose described.

4. The reel having the smooth encircling track or bearing a and adjacent teeth 1), combined with the supporting-pulleys provided .with corresponding smooth surfaces and teeth, the smooth surfaces on both the reel and'the pulley coinciding with the pitch-lines of the gearteeth, whereby the two smooth surfaces are caused to travel at equal speeds without slip or friction upon each other.

5. The bolting-reel provided with smooth encircling tracks or flanges and gear-teeth at both ends, in combination with two longitudinal shafts and two supporting and driving pulleys, mounted on each shaft and located beneath opposite ends of the reel, each pulley having a smooth supporting-surface and a series of driving-teeth, as described and shown, whereby a smooth positive motion is imparted to both ends of the reel.

6. The metallic ring or hoop forming the head of the bolting-cylinder, provided with the smooth flange (t and teeth b, in combination with the driving and supporting pulley E, provided with a smooth surface, (I, and toothed surface c.

7. In combination with a bolting-reel and devices, substantially such as shown, for sustaining the same and preventing its longitudinal motion, a smooth encircling flange applied to the opposite end of said reel, and asustaining-pulley for said flange, having its surface adapted, as described, to permit the adjustment of the flange thereon in the direction of the axis of the pulley.

8. A bolting reel or cylinder having one end or head movable in the direction of its axis for the purpose of stretching the bolting-cloth, in combination with an encircling flange or track thereon and smooth supporting-pulleys beneath said flange, said pulleys having widened or extended surfaces, as described, to 1) ermit the movement of the flange thereon as the head of the reel is adjusted.

9. In combination with a horizontal bolting rcel or cylinder, supporting-rolls located beneath its opposite ends, the rolls at one end being flanged and arranged to engage with a corresponding flange upon the reel to prevent the longitudinal motion of the latter, and the rolls at the opposite end being made with smooth extended surfaces adapted to permit the end of the reel to slide lengthwise thereon.

10. In combination with the bolting-reel, the supporting and driving pulleys, constructed as described, and located beneath one end of the same, the smooth supporting-pulleys located beneatlf the opposite end of the same, and the driving-shafts G, extended endwise through the machine, and each provided with pulleys at both ends of the reel, as and for the purpose described.

11. In a flour-dressing machine, the combination of the reel, the beaters, the pulley on the beater-shaft, the pulley on the conveyershaft, the two pulleys upon the respective shafts of the reel, driving and supporting rolls, and a singlechain or belt, K, engaging with the four pulleys, as and for the. purpose de scribed. 12. In a flour-dressing machine, the combination of the horizontal reel, the beater-shaft,

the rolls sustaining said reel, and gearing, substantially as described, connecting said rolls with the beater-shaft.

18. The combination of the beater-shaft, the

bolting reel or cylinder, the two shafts provided with pulleys sustaining said reel, and a single driving-chain extending from a pulley on the beater-shaft to pulleys upon the two roller-shafts, as described, whereby motion is communicated from the beater-shaft through a single connection to all the supporting-rolls of the reel. I a

14. In combination with the bolting-reel and the rotary spiral beaters therein, the inclosing case or body A, provided with the end opening for the admission of air, and with the top opening, 71 to permit the escape of the same, whereby a continuous outward draft is produced through the bolting-surface during the action of the machine.

15. 111 a bolting-reel, the combination of two end hoops or rings, a series of longitudinal ribbedbars of T form, having flat ends extended beyond the ribbed portion, said ends being applied and bolted to the inner surface of the rings with the ribs extending outwardly, as described and shown.

. 16. In a bolting-reel, the two end hoops, the longitudinal ribbed bars having their ends flattened and bolted to the inner surface of the hoops and the ribs presented outward, in combination with the segmental cloth-covered.

frames appliedextrnally to the ribs and hoops and secured thereto, as described and shown 17. In a flour-dressing machine, the combination, with the beater-shaft, of the boxes, of

spheroidal form, mounted loosely in bearings,

substantially such as described and shown.

IVILLIAM DIOKSON GRAY.

W'itnesses:

WM. W. Arms, ALBERT' HOPPIN. 

